What's on at Air Force Museum of New Zealand
Latest from the museum
Latest Exhibition
Victory!
It is 80 years since the end of the Second World War.
Our Victory exhibition, upstairs in the atrium, marks this significant milestone in world history, and the story of the RNZAF.
Victory includes images and memories of Victory in Europe (VE) Day and Victory over Japan (VJ) Day which have been sourced from photographs, letters, postcards and personal histories in our collection.
Victory includes insights into how Kiwis celebrated, and how they felt.
Many found it difficult to rejoice after so much loss and suffering.
You’re welcome to come along and learn all about the end of World War Two with us.
Exhibition
The Mighty Hercules
The Mighty Hercules exhibition is on in the Cochrane Gallery upstairs in our atrium. Come and visit and learn all about this extraordinary aircraft.
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Update
Overseas visitor charge
A $15 entry charge was introduced for all international visitors to the Air Force Museum of New Zealand from 31 March 2025. Tickets available online or from our Welcome Desk on arrival.
The charge is required to cover rising costs and to contribute to our new $20 million extension to house the newest members of our collection – our historic Hercules and Orion aircraft.
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Our Aircraft
Explore AircraftMore to explore
YOU CAN'T PARK THERE MATE: Today's entry from the parking mishap file dates back to 1939.
A Fairey Gordon K4002 (later NZ612), from No. 1 Service Flying Training School, has ended up in a Canterbury ditch after running a bit long at RNZAF Station Wigram. Although it looks like it might buff out and the trainee pilot was likely fine, the Gordon was written off following this parking incident.
The Fairey Gordon (I & II) were light bombers retired from the Royal Air Force and repurposed as RNZAF trainers between 1939 and 1943.
The Gordons were a bit tired when they arrived and, although they were handy trainers, they needed a lot of maintenance and had ongoing engine issues.
They were superceded by the North American Harvards which began arriving at Wigram in June 1941.
#youcantparktheremate #faireygordon #rnzafpastandpresent ... See MoreSee Less
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TRIPLE THREAT: Here's a lovely photo to start the day.
Way back in 1984 we teamed up with the Australian and United States air forces for an exercise called TRIAD84.
Three countries’ strike aircraft are pictured in formation near RNZAF Base Ohakea.
From top; USAF F16 81706, No. 75 Squadron Skyhawk NZ6205, RAAF Mirage A3-54.
This image and many thosands more can be found online at fotoweb.airforcemuseum.co.nz/fotoweb/
#skyhawk #raaf #usaf #f16 #ohakeaairbase #rnzaf #rnzafpastandpresent ... See MoreSee Less
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I remember lying on the roof of my house in Auckland watching the F15s flying and manouvering overhead instead of studying for my exams!
Now you see 'em - now you don't . That F-16 would still look great with a Kiwi roundel on its wing .
Poor old Blunty got left behind
Send the F 16 s back to NZ now 🤷🏻♂️
OMG.!! THANK YOU so much for posting this photo. This has solved a 41yr mystery for me!... i have a memory of two aircraft flying very low over my school during soccer practice...and being a very keen aircraft enthusiast i saw these and realised they were not RNZAF aircraft...but could not place them (too low and too fast). Since then i have often thought about that afternoon and whether i actually saw what i thought i saw.... so there you go, they were two RAAF mirages! The relief😆😆😆
Do it again with today's....oh, never mind.
Skyhawk looks like a hot rod of a plane
One of those F16s took the top off a fence post while landing a bit low on approach at Ohakea. The broken piece complete with barbed wire attached was mounted and presented to the pilot in the Officers Mess.
And what have we got now.?
That F16 looks great in RNZAF colours. I see a new model coming.
I remember being at primary school watching the F-15 fly out of Whenuapai .
Remember working in the Taranaki back country middle 70’s and seeing the Skyhawks doing low practice runs, made you proud to be a kiwi.
A fantastic time. I remember the big BBQ in 3 Sqns hangar and chatting to a young F15 pilot about where to go for a run. Sgt Probes Probert scored an awesome ride in the back of an F15 as a thank you for looking after the USAF NCOs
Wow I didn't think those F15s could fly slow enough to keep pace with our 1960s skyhawks
Bring back fighter jets to Ohakea. Was awsome seeing the skyhawks as a young fella. The strike master air mackies were pretty cool too
I remember watching F15 Eagles operating out of Whenuapai during that exercise in 84
Yessss! I recall this vaguely, however I had read over the years since then as well that our pilots in the Skyhawks gave those f16 pilots a really good go n even out did them in dog fighting. Could only imagine how more awesome our pilots would have been had we got those F16 s! Man I'm sure, like they did with the Skyhawks would have lasted due to the kiwi military no how and make the best of what u have.
One of my fondest memories as a kid was when 4 F16 (that were in NZ for Triad) flew over my house. Then they did a circuit around Wellington. Was amazing to see them.
I remember that day on Sunday morning the roaring jet engines over Auckland.
Actually the Strike Aircraft for the RAAF back then was the F-111: the Mirage was a fighter.
Very cool. Thanks for posting.
Them are the days the golden years
Was awesome watching the Skyhawks over the Waiouru Traing Area.
1 Mirage 1 F16
Before Helen Clark betrayed the defense of New Zealand
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YOU CAN DEFINITELY PARK THERE MATE! RNZAF Station Ohakea hosted a lot of exotic aircraft in its time, and this six-engined beast is a standout.
It's a United States Air Force Boeing KB50 airborne refuelling tanker, 490326 and the photo is courtesy of the Norman Alfred Thomas Clark personal collection in our archive.
The KB50 is a B-29 Superfortress with two J-47 jet engines and a lengthened fueslage added to convert it to a tanker. The jets gave it added performance to lift more and fly faster to fuel up jet fighters.
They were introduced in early 1958, built out of surplus B-29 aircraft not needed by the Strategic Air Command.
The KB50 visited Ohakea in 1959 in support of the aircraft visiting for the opening of the new and much improved Wellington Airport at Rongotai.
The 134 KB50s started being phased out of service from 1964 - so they had a relatively short second life.
You can search our fantastic photo archive here: fotoweb.airforcemuseum.co.nz/fotow#usaf##boeingkb50g#B29 #superfortresstress ... See MoreSee Less
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4 turning and 2 burning
Now only 2 airworthy I believe
The KB-50J is a version of the B-50, a more powerful version of the B-29
I hitched a ride in one OH to CH CH 64 then cabbage train back to Woodbourne to continue my Fitters course,big airshow @ OH then which featured some F105,s.
Was there then, 64 if I remember correctly.
That would have been the aircraft flying over our house in Matakawau on its way to Whenuapai. I was just 14 years old. My brother James Ashley Hunter would have been in the RNZAF then?
I don't remember the KB 50 but what was more memorable was the crash of Avro Vulcan XH498 from 617 Squadron.
KB-50 is a redesign of the B-29. It has P&W Wasp Major R4360 28 cylinder engine as opposed to the Cyclone R-3350 18 cylinder engines used on the B-29. There is a taller vertical stabilizer and other changes including the refueler capability. It was not until the KB-50 J that the addition of two J-47 jet engines were added..
The B50 also did away with the Wright R3350's and used the Pratt R4360's instead.
The B-50 started as a B-29D before redesignation. So far as I know, no B-29's were converted to B-50's; they were all new production. Boeing built 370 of the various B-50 models and variants between 1947 and 1953; 112 were converted to KB-50J tankers with the GE J-47 jet engines added.
And also shown in the Hobsonville development imagery
KB-50J located at Pima Air and Space, Tucson Arizona.
Got a feeling you are showing a B50, which was effectively an upgraded B29 with improved reliability.
Looks like the same hangar that the P-8s were operating out of before their new facility was built.
The 4360? engines did not have the spontaneous combustion issues of the original high-rated 3350 engines. The B-50 also had improved forward vision via a modified glazing arrangement. You can see the flat glass in the bomb aimer position.
Brought back memories of this plane at the Tucson aerospace museum
Liev Russomaquina
Oliver GS
Crikey what a beast
Josh Walby Elizah Walby Nellee
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